Eleanor Finch
Gang leaders are known to meet in prisons, where they are incarcerated, to discuss diplomacy. In El Salvador, President Nayib Bukele's government was accused by the US Treasury of secretly negotiating a truce with leaders of powerful street gangs. The incarcerated leaders received special treatment in prison, including access to mobile phones and prostitutes, in exchange for their support.
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What You'll Learn
Gang diplomacy in El Salvador
El Salvador has long been plagued by gang violence, with the country's two largest criminal gangs, Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13) and the 18th Street Gang (Barrio 18), dominating the country's criminal landscape for decades. MS-13 was created in Los Angeles by Salvadoran refugees fleeing civil war in the 1980s, while Barrio 18 was formed by Mexican immigrants in the 1960s. Both gangs arrived in El Salvador in the 1990s following the conclusion of the civil war and the subsequent deportation of refugees from the US.
The prevalence of gang violence in El Salvador has had devastating consequences, contributing to the country's high homicide rates and making it the most violent country in the Western Hemisphere. In 2015, El Salvador's homicide rate reached a staggering 103 homicides per 100,000 people, with 6,650 homicides registered that year. The situation has been exacerbated by the gangs' engagement in various criminal activities, including murder, rape, kidnapping, arms and drug trafficking, intimidation, robbery, vehicular theft, and extortion.
In recent years, the Salvadoran government, led by President Nayib Bukele, has implemented stringent security policies to combat gang violence, officially referred to as the State of Exception or the War Against the Gangs. These policies have been credited with significantly reducing crime in the country. However, human rights groups have raised concerns about arbitrary arrests and the use of excessive force by law enforcement.
The gang crackdown in El Salvador has also been marked by diplomatic tensions with the United States. The Trump administration's decision to deport alleged gang members to El Salvador, including members of MS-13 and the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua, has been controversial. While the Salvadoran government welcomed these deportations, human rights organizations criticized them as racist and a violation of due process.
The complex dynamics of gang diplomacy in El Salvador involve not only domestic policies and law enforcement strategies but also international relations and human rights considerations. The ongoing efforts to address gang violence in the country continue to be a challenging and multifaceted issue.
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Gang leadership and internal organisation
Gangs are groups of associates, friends, or family members with a defined leadership and internal organisation. They claim control over territory in a community and engage in illegal and violent behaviour, often constituting a form of organised crime. While some gangs have a transient leadership and loose structure, others have a more defined hierarchy and internal organisation.
Street gangs, for example, are primarily known for street fighting and gang warfare. They are formed by youths in urban areas and have identifiable leadership and internal organisation. The Bloods, the Crips, the Vice Lords, and the Gangster Disciples are some examples of well-known street gangs with strong leadership and internal organisation. These gangs have distinct rituals for initiating new members, such as beat-in rituals or requiring members to have tattoos of the gang's name.
In contrast, drug cartels and other organised crime groups require strong leadership, codes of loyalty, severe sanctions for failure to abide by these codes, and entrepreneurial expertise to accumulate and invest proceeds from drug sales. They may have more formal roles and structures compared to street gangs.
Additionally, biker gangs like the Hells Angels operate as motorcycle clubs while engaging in illegal activities. They have their own initiation rituals, such as observing and mentoring aspiring members for extended periods. Similarly, the Cosa Nostra requires oaths and bloodletting rituals for full membership.
Gangs exhibit a range of leadership styles and internal organisation, from loose structures to highly organised hierarchies, depending on their specific context and activities.
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Gang migration and expansion
Gangs are groups with a defined leadership and internal organization that claim control over a territory in a community and engage in illegal and possibly violent behavior. They are often formed by youths in urban areas and are known for street fighting and gang warfare. The term "street gang" is used interchangeably with "youth gang", referring to neighborhood or street-based youth groups that meet certain "gang" criteria. While some gangs are organized, with strong leadership and codes of loyalty, most street gangs are loosely structured, with transient leadership and easily transcended codes of loyalty.
To combat the expansion of gang activity, law enforcement agencies must understand the extent and reasons for gang member migration. This involves examining the dynamics of gang member movement and the factors that attract gangs to new areas. By gathering intelligence and analyzing patterns, law enforcement can develop strategies to disrupt gang networks and prevent their expansion into new territories.
In some cases, negotiation and diplomacy may be employed to mitigate the impact of gangs on communities. For example, humanitarian negotiators may engage with gang leaders to facilitate access to gang-controlled areas for humanitarian operations. Additionally, as seen in El Salvador, governments may negotiate truces with gang leaders to reduce violent crimes such as homicides, although these negotiations may involve providing financial benefits and privileges to gang members and leaders.
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Gang identification and initiation
Gangs are groups of associates, friends, or family members with a defined leadership and internal organisation. They claim control over territory in a community and engage in illegal and possibly violent behaviour, often constituting a form of organised crime. While some gangs are highly organised, with strong leadership and codes of loyalty, others are more loosely structured, with transient leadership and easily transcended codes of loyalty.
Street gangs, in particular, are formed by youths in urban areas and are known for street fighting and gang warfare. These gangs often have identifiable leadership and internal organisation, uniting under mutual interests to achieve specific purposes, including conducting illegal activities and controlling specific territories. The term "street gang" is commonly used interchangeably with "youth gang". Well-known examples include the Bloods, the Crips, the Vice Lords, and the Gangster Disciples.
Gang initiation rites are a common motif in contemporary crime discourse, with varying levels of brutality and violence. Some gangs require prospective members to undergo a ritual known as "initiation" or "beat-in," where they must withstand a beating by existing gang members to demonstrate their toughness, willingness, and loyalty. This ritual can involve fighting multiple gang members simultaneously, known as "The Line," or being "jumped in," where the aspirant is beaten for a specific duration. Other gangs employ unique initiation processes, such as the Hells Angels, who require a "hang-around" period of observation and mentorship, or the Cosa Nostra, which includes oaths, agreements, and bloodletting.
The initiation process for women can differ from that of men. For instance, the Florida Gang Reduction website mentions that a female recruit might have to roll two dice. In some gangs, women can gain membership by having sex with male members, known as "sexed-in." Additionally, prospective gang members might be expected to commit crimes to prove their worth, such as robbery, kidnapping, auto theft, or even more violent acts like rape or murder. These acts serve as tests of character and loyalty, with successful completion leading to full membership.
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Gang-controlled areas and negotiation strategies
Gangs are groups of associates, friends, or family members with a defined leadership and internal organization that claims control over a community territory. They engage in illegal and possibly violent activities, often constituting organized crime. While some gangs have a more transient leadership and loose structure, others have a more formal structure with defined ranks and groups, like the "families" of Victorian London's criminal underworld.
Gangs often control specific territories within communities, and their activities can significantly impact the lives of those living in these areas. Negotiating access to these gang-controlled areas can be challenging and dangerous, and requires careful strategy and expertise. Here are some negotiation strategies that can be employed to access and operate in gang-controlled areas:
- Humanitarian Diplomacy: This involves negotiating with multiple counterparts, including governments, authorities, communities, and affected individuals. The primary focus is on safeguarding civilians in conflict zones and advancing their protection agendas. This strategy is often employed in displacement contexts, aiming to enhance civilian safety through improved engagement with weapon bearers.
- Pressure Management: Understanding and managing pressure is crucial in high-stakes negotiations. Research conducted by the CCHN focuses on the causes and consequences of pressure and aims to develop strategies to handle and reduce it. This includes training in active listening, effective communication, and storytelling to build trust and establish common ground.
- Safe Humanitarian Operations: Negotiation practices can be structured to minimize risk and safeguard all parties involved. This includes the leadership of local humanitarians, who play a vital role in ensuring the safety and security of civilians in gang-controlled areas. Field experts, local negotiators, and security specialists collaborate to share insights and debate approaches to achieve effective and safe outcomes.
- Addressing Barriers: Successful negotiations require overcoming sanctions, political barriers, and trust deficits. Negotiators must explore strategies to break down these barriers and find common ground. This includes understanding the interests and motivations of all parties involved, including the gangs themselves, to develop mutually beneficial solutions.
- Engaging with Gang Leadership: In some cases, direct negotiation with gang leaders may be necessary. This can involve facilitating meetings with incarcerated gang leaders and providing certain privileges or benefits in exchange for cooperation. However, this approach is controversial and may lead to accusations of promoting gang interests.
- Community Engagement: Negotiating access to gang-controlled areas may require building relationships and trust within the community. This can involve working with local community leaders, organizations, and affected individuals to understand their needs and priorities. By addressing their concerns and involving them in decision-making, negotiators can gain crucial support and insight into the gang dynamics.
Negotiating in gang-controlled areas is a complex and challenging endeavor that requires a nuanced understanding of gang dynamics, strong communication skills, and a focus on civilian safety. By employing these strategies and adapting them to the specific context, negotiators can work towards achieving successful outcomes that protect and benefit those living in gang-influenced communities.
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Frequently asked questions
Gang leaders may meet in prison facilities, as seen in the case of El Salvador, where incarcerated gang leaders were allowed to meet with senior gang leadership. In addition, gang leaders may also meet in specific territories or communities they claim control over. These can include urban areas, cities, or rural counties.
Gang diplomacy can refer to negotiations between governments and gangs, such as the case of El Salvador's government, which negotiated a truce with leaders of powerful street gangs, resulting in a decrease in the country's murder rate.
Negotiating with gangs can be challenging due to factors like sanctions, political barriers, and trust deficits that hinder successful outcomes, and the illegal nature of gang activities. Gangs are often involved in criminal activities, including drug operations, and have complex structures with defined leadership and internal organizations.
Humanitarian diplomacy aims to protect civilians in conflict zones through negotiation strategies with multiple counterparts, including governments, authorities, communities, and affected individuals. These negotiations focus on safeguarding all parties involved while addressing challenges like political barriers and trust issues.
